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Lovenox/Heparin Question

bjmyangelbjmyangel
in High-Risk Pregnancy

Hi all.  I am on a high dose of Lovenox (at least that is what my MFM dr says).  At 34 weeks I will be switched to heparin.  When I was first put on Lovenox I asked if I would have to be induced due to the medication.  I was told no, I could just go into labor on my own and not worry about anything.  At my last appointment the doctor informed me that I must be induced.  I cannot go into labor on my own as it carries too high of risk of hemorrage and I also would be unable to get an epidural if I had not stopped the heparin far enough ahead of time.  So here's my question...have any of you had experience with this?  Do/did you have to be induced?  When were you induced?  Did you have an epidural or at least the option if you wanted it?  Any other information would be appreciated.

Side note-my regular OB is sick and won't return until right before I have the baby, at the earliest.  I am having a hard time getting the info I feel I need from the nurses I have been seeing.  I don't see my MFM doctor until the end of the month and I feel that I really need to plan things out now!

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Re: Lovenox/Heparin Question

  • MAtoNCMAtoNC member

    Hi, there :-)

    My son was born Nov 17. I was on lovenox, switched to heparin at 36 weeks and then induced at 39 weeks. Yes, I had an option of an epi because the heparin was discontinued prior to the induction so that it would clear my system before labor.

    One thing to keep in mind (and don't let it scare you) is that if you haven't made any progress prior to induction, there is a possibility that the induction will not be successful and you will have to have a c-section. At my last appointment before my induction, my cervix was barely softened and 0 cm dilated.

    After an overnight of cervidal and a full day of pitocin, I was only 1.5 cm dilated. My contractions were very very mild (as in, they were registering on the monitor, but I wasn't feeling them). Multiple days of induction are an option for some moms, but it wasn't for me, and my son was born by c-section just after midnight (the decision was made around 8:30 in the evening, but we had to wait for a surgical team since I wasn't an emergency).

    It really wasn't bad at all, and the important thing was that both of us made it through without complications. 

    I share this with you just because I had my heart set on a vaginal birth, and so I hadn't really spent much time researching or thinking about c-section. It would be a good idea for you to look into all of the possibilities to be best prepared.

    GL!!

    Married 4/12/08 DS born 11/17/2009 via c-section at 39 weeks. 11/12/2011 BFP #2!! m/c 7w5d. 2/28/2012 BFP #3 Beta #1-12dpo = 18; Beta #2-16dpo = 185; Beta #3-18dpo = 505. EDD 11/10/2012. Ectopic discovered at 5w4d. D&C followed by methotrexate.
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  • bmk112302bmk112302
    I was on lovenox the entire time of my last pregnancy. I had a planned induction 2 weeks before my due date. The Lovenox was stopped 2 days prior.  I hadn't yet made any progress and the induction failed. I was given the choice of coming back to try again in 2 days or having a c-section. I chose the c-section. Before the c-section they did some bloodwork to confirm the levels and clotting and safety for me to get the spinal.
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  • W&J'sMommyW&J'sMommy

    With my son I went into labor on my own.  I had been switched to Heparin around 35 weeks, went into labor at 37 weeks.   I took my Heparin at 8 am and 8 pm.  I went into labor at 11 am, was at the hospital by 5 pm.  I had my epidural by 9 pm (the Heparin only lasts 12 hours, so it was safe by then).  He was born the next morning, 7:45 am (so 24 hours after my last dose of Heparin).

    I actually did hemorrage after his birth, although I was told it was not due to the Heparin (as it had been 24 hours since my last injection) but was due to the size of DS's placenta. 

    I also have found that many drs are not entirely familiar with blood thinners during pregnancy.  My OB with DS wasn't aware that I would have to switch to Heparin before his birth, my MFM dr had to notify her of that.  Perhaps that is why you've gotten different opinions on induction.

    DS - June 2006 DD1 - November 2007 DD2 - August 2010
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  • aglennaglenn member
    I was switched to heparin around 36 or 37 weeks and went into labor on my own.  My doctor said an induction wasn't necessary because the heparin clears your system pretty quickly.  I stopped taking it when I went into labor, and my labor was REALLY long, so I was totally fine to get an epi and deliver without the heparin being an issue at all.  HTH.
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  • trickywootrickywoo member

    I had to be induced with my last baby because my OB kept me on lovenox.

    I was super nervous about the induction but had a great experience, so try not to worry.

    My OB had me take my last lovenox shot 24 hours before the induction.  Then, they broke my water and started the pitocin at about 6 AM.  I delivered at about 5 PM without an epidural.  However, being off the lovenox for 24 hours, I could have had an epi if I wanted one.

     I was really nervous about the induction because I had heard pitocin horror stories.  But I delivered my first son naturally without an epidural and the pain was almost exactly the same as my induction delivery.  So I found that the pitocin wasn't more painful.  Good luck!

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